Bed.



W. H. FROST.

' BBD.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 30, 1918.

Patented June 2, 1914.

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Marit/z COLQMBIA PIANDGRAPH C0..WASH1NUTON. D. C.

STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WARREN HERBERT FROST, 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

BED.

T0 all whom it may concern l Be it known that I, WARREN I-IERBRRT FRosT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Ijos Angeles and State of California, have 1nvented a new and useful Bed, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to a spring bed and the obj ect of the invention is to so construct the bed that when it is occupied by two persons there will not bea sagging down. or depression of the bed in the middle thereof, but it will be depressed in two separate places directly undereach person, so that the persons are not caused to roll toward the center ofthe bed, but each occupies his own position, thereby giving 4independent freedom of movement for each person, without disturbing the other and affording much greater comfort than where the bed vsags in the center; and while capable of acting in this manner, to also act to sag or depress in the center when a single Iperson occupies the bed, so thatin either case, with two persons occupying the bed, or withrone person occupying the bed, in each instance the person will rest comfortably in a depression conforming to the body.

When the bed is used by one person, the person may with equal comfort occupyelther the center or either of the two side sections thereof, in either case, a natural depression being formed which will maintain the body in that position in the bed unless the person voluntarily changes to another part of the bed. The bed thus constructed gives practically all the comfort of two separate beds, without the extra expense and requires somewhat less room. Y

The construction is not restricted to any particular form of springs, but is capable of use with various forms ofsprings.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of the invention as applied to a bed constructed with one form of springs,

dotted lines showing the position of the' Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led September 30, 1913.

Patented June 2, 1914.

Serial No. 792,587.

diagrammatically illustrated as reposing on the mattress, showing the manner in'which the bed is depressed in separate parts. Fig. 5 is aview similar to Fig. 4, showing the manner in which the bed is depressed with a single occupant in the center'. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. `1, showing another form of mesh. Fig. 7 is a plan view of a portion only, vof the bed showing another form of mesh, full lines indicating position of the parts as when the bed is occupied, and dotted lines as when unoccupied. Fig. 8 is an enlarged section on line :v8-xs, Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail in plan of the center connecting strap used in Fig. 6.

In the form shown in Fig. .1, 1 designates the frame, at each end of which are coil springs 2, and 3 is the bed shown herein as consisting of transverse links 3a and longitudinal links Sbarticulated at 4, forming rectangles. The bed is made in two sections a and o, there being no transverse links 3a between the two sections. I-Ieretofore, beds have been constructed of two sections in a somewhat similar manner and the two sections have been united by means permitting flexibility between the two sections in an effort to accomplish the result I have before indicated, and it is the construction of the means which unites the two sections which results in success or failure. I have found in practice that even where a flexible means is provided between the two sections, that the desired results are not accomplished and have discovered that it is essential that the connecting means permit flexibility but also permit of an expansion or widening of the space between the two sections near the center, in order to permit the necessary sagging of one or both sections without pulling upon the opposite sections. Reference to Figs. 1 and 4 will make this clear. Thus, when a person lies in one section of the bed, it causes a depression of that section, making the transverse links 3a, particularly those exposed to the greatest weight of the person, assume a curvature transversely, as indicated in Fig. 4. This curvature of the transverse links 3a is accompanied with a curvature of the longitudinal links 3", but in longer arcs and also results in a curvature of the longitudinal links in a horizontal plane. This lateral curvature of clearly seen in Fig. 1 and it is this lateral curvature which forms the wider gap between the two sections when the bed is occupied. It will now be seen thatif the means uniting the' two sections, even though it permits flexibility between two sections, does not permit' this widening apart at the center, it will cause that section of the bed which is de-.w

pressed to pull upon the other section, or if both sections are depressed with two persons, they will both act vagainst each other and will necessarily cause a downward sag' ging yin the center of the bed, practically asl though the bed were of the ordinary con struction throughout. As -one means for ac" looseness being in the center portion of the bed becoming less toward the end portions.

This lacing 5 acts to support the mattress M and also forms a positive structure connecting the two bed sections so that an unbroken supporting surface is provided. I have discovered that if this lacing is taut l when the bed is unoccupied, that even though the lacing have a freedom of move ment in the rings 6, when the bed is occupied in either one or both sections, the lacing being taut will produce a correspond ing sagging effect in the center of the bed, andthe persons will roll together, .but by loosening the lacing to the right amount, the desired result isv produced. The proper amount of looseness may be determined by adjusting the lacing so that it is taut when the bed is occupied by both persons. This Y enables a single person to occupy the bed by lying in the center thereof if he desires, as the lacing will at such time give the desired f sagging in the center and will support the mattress and person securely. It is thus essential that the means connecting the two.

sections of the bed be so arranged that the center portions of the bed sections can move 3 wider apart than the end portions.

Fig. 2 indicates how the frame of the bed 1a may be hinged at 8 to fold up, and Fig.

3 shows how the flexibility of the lacing readily permits of this folding action.

In the form shown in Fig. 6, the bed sections are shown diagrammatically as consisting of wire springs 9 and the means uniting the two bed sections comprise straps 10, one of which is shown in detail in Fig. 9, the strap being adjustable by means of a Copies of lthis patent may 'be `obtained. for

Y.tions than the end straps, the straps being Vgraded in length from the center toward f each end, gradually shortening. Dotted lines in Fig. 6 indicate the normal position of the inner edges of the two bed sections and when in this position unoccupied, the

center straps will sagY down slightly owing to their slackness.

In the form shown in'Fig. 7 another form of bed' section 13is diagrammatically indicated Aand the two bed sections are united by a series of flexible loops 14, .the loops 14 being all connected to one longitudinal cord or line 15, and the respective loops are gradedl in size so that thecenter loops afford a greater separation between the center bed sections than the end sections. By adjusting the center cord 15 endwise in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 6, it will take up slack in the loops 14 proportionately, but, without altering the ratio of their slackness.V

In order to give perfect freedom of'fmovcl ment of the loops 14, pulleys 16 may be em-V ployed over which the loops pass, yas shown in Fig. S, the pulleys 16V being pivoted in hooks 17 which are connected to the bed springs 13.

What I claim is: Y

l. A bed comprising two flexible sections with continuous side edges, non-elastic means connecting the two inner side edges of such sections and producing an unbroken supporting surface, .the said connecting means permitting either or both sections to sag and contract laterally symmetrically without lowering the inner side edges of the bed sections., Y

2. A bed comprising a plurality of fleXible sections with continuous side'edges, a lacing uniting the two sections, the said lacing being slidably connected Vwith the adjoining side edges of the two sections and having a 'sufficient slack to permit the bed sections to independently sag and contract laterally symmetrically without lowering the inner side edges of the said bed sections, or to support a body midway of the two sections by causing thetwo sections and lacing 4 to collectively'assume a trough like shape. Y

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this Q4 day of September, 1913.

WARREN HERBERT ERosT.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

. Washington, D. C. 

